'Snow on the Seats' is an alternative view of Russian football in the build up to the World Cup. No hype here, not many prima donnas, just an English football fan and journalist on a journey through the Russian game as 2018 drew ever closer. It’s based on my experiences of living and working in Moscow for almost a decade and offers some background about how FIFA’s fandango is changing the sporting culture – for better or worse. A bargain at just £3.49, it can be downloaded to any Kindle device at https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07DGJFF6G

To avoid World Cup related topics springing up all over NLZ we will be deleting them and / or moving them here

Wouldnt it be better having this thread on forums people actually check with relative frequency. Hiding it away here struck me as silly last time and it does again.

Anyway, the tournament hasn't been too bad so far. A thumping win for the hosts, a classic Iberian encounter and some genuinely surprising results. Expecting England to be a 1-1 later, it's our preferred opening game result.

To avoid World Cup related topics springing up all over NLZ we will be deleting them and / or moving them here

Wouldnt it be better having this thread on forums people actually check with relative frequency. Hiding it away here struck me as silly last time and it does again.

The easiest way to visit this site is via the "View New Posts" link. That way you see everything which has been posted since your last visit and can then select what you want to read from the list produced.

_________________The Senility Prayer:God grant me the senility to forget the peopleI never liked anyway,The good fortune to run into the ones I do, and The eyesight to tell the difference.

If God had wanted me to touch my toes, he would have put them on my knees.

To avoid World Cup related topics springing up all over NLZ we will be deleting them and / or moving them here

Wouldnt it be better having this thread on forums people actually check with relative frequency. Hiding it away here struck me as silly last time and it does again.

The easiest way to visit this site is via the "View New Posts" link. That way you see everything which has been posted since your last visit and can then select what you want to read from the list produced.

Indeed, I'm just conscious that many who use this site frequently rarely check this forum and so won't be contributing to the thread.

The FIFA Referees Committee has selected 36 referees and 63 assistant referees for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™.

Preparations for the road to Russia kicked off in September 2014 not only for the 32 participating teams, but also for the initial group of 53 FIFA referee trios from around the world. The choice of the final group of match officials selected to officiate at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ was based on each referee’s skills and personality, as well as his level of understanding of football and ability to read both the game and the various tactics employed by teams.

One week in, and I'm enjoying it far more than I expected. Not too much over-cautious football in the group stages, enough competitive games to keep it interesting and no signs of serious trouble. Can't argue with that.

Not getting swept up in the England hype, though. Sure, they looked good in parts against Tunisia, but it felt like the old frailties were all there to be seen as well. Out in the quarter-finals, for a change.

https://groundhoppers.blog/2017/08/03/i ... t-stadium/ - ahead of England's game in Kaliningrad this evening, a bit of background about footie in the Baltic enclave. Across town from the World Cup venue, you've got technically Russia's oldest stadium (if you ignore the fact it was built by the Germans in East Prussia).

I know we won't take advantage but you have to say, we can't really ask for a better run through a World Cup knock-out phase than this. No Germany, Brazil, Argentina, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Holland or Iceland to contend with.

Of course no game at this stage is easy but on paper at least, I don't think we've had a more favourable potential run-in than this in my lifetime.

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